FUNCTIONAL REORGANIZATION INDUCED BY ENDOVASCULAR EMBOLIZATION OF A CEREBRAL AVM

We mapped motor function in a patient with a cerebral arteriovenous ma lformation (AVM) before and after treatment with endovascular emboliza tion. Functional activation using technetium-99m-hexamethylpropyleneam ine single photon emission tomography (Tc-99m-HMPAO-SPECT) demonstrate d a redistribution of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) that correla ted with clinical improvement. Intravascular feeding artery pressure m easurements, serial angiography, and challenge with a pharmacological vasodilator enabled us to explore possible mechanisms of functional re organization. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.